Unmissable performance, music, literature & art is heading to Norfolk

Image: ‘The LPO can stand alongside the top international orchestras with pride’Financial Times

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is one of the oldest city festivals in England, having been held since 1824 and tracing its roots back further to 1772. This year boasts a lineup of Norfolk & worldwide musical, comedy, arts luminaries.

We caught up with the festival directors.. .here is what they had to say....

"Norfolk is hosting a Our vision is to use the power of the arts to make our part of the world a truly great place to live, work, learn and play. We collaborate year-round with extraordinary artists – some from the region, some from the other side of the world – and with communities across Norfolk and Norwich to create unmissable experiences that have the potential to change lives. For 17 days each May, the Festival transforms our public spaces, city streets, performance venues, parks, forests and beaches, bringing people together to experience the same brilliant and inspirational events. The flagship arts festival for the East of England, our world-class programme spans music, theatre, literature, visual arts, circus, dance and free outdoor events. We have been an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation since April 2012 and are one of 10 Bridge Organisations with a mandate to develop arts and cultural opportunities for children and young people in the East of England."

Image: Maisha - just one example of the varied acts on this year at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2018

Maisha’s energetic show has been lighting up parties and jazz clubs all over London for the last year. Taking inspiration from Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane and Idris Mohammad, the band fuse their jazz influences with West African and Afro-beat rhythms, courtesy of bandleader Jake Long (2016 Yamaha Jazz Scholar).

Having supported legendary artists such as Sun Ra Arkestra and Natalie ‘Floacist’ Stewart (Floetry), Maisha have proved they are a live act not to be missed.

Artists have long drawn inspiration from the sea, to produce both poignant and turbulent works. Acclaimed singers Mark Padmore and Christopher Purves join Simon Russell-Beale in a journey across the ocean, exploring the tumultuous power and yet serene tranquillity of the water. The maritime programme features songs by Fauré, Tippett, Brahms and Britten and is interspersed with readings of poetry by Thomas Hardy, Christina Rossetti and Emily Dickinson, among others.